Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
San Angelo, TX
🏆 San Angelo leads 15 of 23 categories
Chicago
Illinois
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,673 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
San Angelo
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$65,040
Violent Crime Index
57 ✓ Safer
Population
99,422
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chicago, IL
Pros
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 97°F
Households earn $6,633 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (539.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3472.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 12% higher than San Angelo
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 3.2%)
San Angelo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $133k less ($171,700 vs $304,500)
60% less violent crime than Chicago
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.0 pts lower (3.2%)
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
Rent averages $277/mo less ($1,037 vs $1,314)
Violent crime is well below the national average (218.2 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Property crime (2486.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Chicago by $6,633/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Chicago
Median Income
$6,633
$71,673 vs $65,040/yr
San Angelo
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
San Angelo
Violent Crime
60% lower
218.2 vs 539.8 per 100k
San Angelo
Median Home Value
$133k less
$171,700 vs $304,500
San Angelo
Unemployment
5.0 pp lower
3.2% vs 8.2% unemployment
San Angelo
Summer Heat
16.4°F warmer
July avg high 97.4°F vs 81.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | San Angelo, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $304,500 | $171,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 | $1,037 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 ✓ Higher | $65,040 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High | 17.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% ✓ Higher | 7.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% ✓ Higher | 86.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | SAN ANGELO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F | 61.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F | 97.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" | 22.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" | 1.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 99,422 |
| Median Age | 35.3 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 64.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs San Angelo's 90.9 (US average = 100).
San Angelo is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Angelo leads 15 of 23 categories. Chicago wins 8 and San Angelo wins 15. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Chicago to San Angelo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $171,700 median home), income ($71,673 vs $65,040), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and San Angelo, TX are about 1,006 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.